Case Studies

Compass® Makes A Big Impact for Social Services Agencies

County and state social services agency case studies demonstrate how Northwoods’ Compass® software improves social services document management and caseworker productivity.

By partnering with county and state human services agencies, Northwoods improves processes, mobile and desktop productivity, reduces costs and increases client and caseworker satisfaction. Check out these case studies to learn how our human services software solutions and social services technology made a difference for our clients, their caseworkers and the families they serve.

In 2006, Lenoir County Department of Social Services (DSS) had a 73% turnover rate within its Child Welfare unit because documentation requirements and emotional stress were taking such a big toll on social workers. At fault was a manual, paper-based process. Now, workers have access to office-based and field-based document management solutions that give them more time to focus on engaging clients, building trust, and delivering quality service. The change helped reduce turnover to 17%.

Lenoir County Boosts Productivity and Client Service in Child Support

An antiquated case management system made producing court orders and motions a manual, tedious process for Lenoir County Department of Social Services' Child Support caseworkers, plus they lacked access to critical information in court. With Northwoods’ document management solution, caseworkers are exceeding timeframes for case closure and court orders, can electronically view and collect documents in court, and have more time to locate noncustodial parents and interact with clients.

Lenoir County Upgrades Adult and Family Services with Mobile App

Lenoir County Department of Social Services’ (DSS) Adult and Family Services social workers were challenged to balance meeting paperwork requirements and spending quality face-to-face time with clients because of a manual, paper-based process. Since implementing Northwoods’ office- and field-based document management solutions, social workers have access to client and case information whenever and wherever they need it to provide clients more holistic, quality service.

Cabarrus County Provides Superior Service with Modernized Lobby

Cabarrus County Department of Human Services’ (DHS) clients were frustrated by a confusing lobby and long waits, which had a ripple effect on the agency’s efficiency. Cabarrus County DHS partnered with Northwoods to redesign the lobby, upgrade technology, and modernize business processes to reduce client and caseworker frustration and process applications for services much faster.

Chemung County Caseworkers Shift Time from Paperwork to People

Caseworkers in Children and Family Services at Chemung County Department of Social Services (DSS) in New York were spending only 21% of their time in the field and the rest on documentation. To improve family engagement and child safety while also meeting documentation requirements, the agency implemented Northwoods’ mobile document management software. Caseworkers are completing documentation 91 percent faster, allowing them to spend more time interacting with families.

Mobile App Helps Clark County Social Workers Improve Family Engagement

Clark County Family and Children Services in Springfield, Ohio, needed a way to help child welfare social workers improve family engagement, but mountains of documentation and inefficient paper-based processes stood in the way. Since implementing Northwoods’ mobile document management for social services, social workers are saving up to two hours a day on paperwork and spending more face-to-face time with families.

Mobile App Helping Crow Wing County Social Workers Spend More Time With Families

Faced with increasingly complex cases, budget constraints, and hiring restrictions, Crow Wing County Community Services wanted to help mobile social workers manage their overwhelming amount of paperwork so they could devote more time to families. After implementing Northwoods’ social services software, social workers are spending more face-to-face time with clients, which has improved morale and workers’ ability to protect and strengthen families.

San Joaquin County Uses Appointment Management for Caseworkers to Eliminate Lobby Wait Time

With up to 2,000 clients visiting each day, San Joaquin County Human Services Agency (HSA) has one of the busiest lobbies in California. However, the inefficient manual process used to manage lobby traffic and client appointments was unworkable. Since implementing Northwoods’ lobby management and appointment management for caseworkers, the agency has eliminated lobby wait time, achieved same-day appointments, and reduced client and caseworker frustration.

Technology in Social Work Helping Winona County Community Services Automate Paperwork to Focus on Families

Winona County Community Services in Winona, Minnesota was challenged by skyrocketing child protection, adult mental health and chemical dependency caseloads. As the first agency in the U.S. to implement Northwoods’ Compass® CoPilot® for iPad®, a mobile technology in social work, Winona County is helping mobile social workers focus less on document management and more on families, reducing stress and improving case work.

Staff Turnover Cut in Half for Dane County Social Workers Using Mobile Application

Faced with a 25% increase in child abuse and neglect reports and a 30% turnover rate, Dane County Department of Human Services needed to help mobile social workers deal with mountains of paperwork and access critical information while in the field. Since implementing Northwoods’ software for social services, turnover has been cut in half, and social workers can access necessary case information to make critical decisions and strengthen families.

Beaufort County DSS Reduces Turnover with Mobile Software for Social Services

Mountains of paper files and antiquated business processes were interfering with Beaufort County Department of Social Services social workers’ work to protect children and adults. After implementing Northwoods’ software solution for protective services, social workers are saving 2-3 hours each day on documentation to spend more quality time with families, helping the agency reduce turnover by 13%, and reduced office supply expenditures by 75%.

Fairfield County Using Technology in Social Work to Boost Productivity and Worker Morale

Fairfield County Child and Adult Protective Services in Lancaster, Ohio went from drowning in social services paperwork to creating a truly mobile social worker by implementing Northwoods’ children’s service software, Compass® Pilot and CoPilot. That move is saving up to two days per week per social worker, empowering social workers to create stronger relationships with families and achieve better outcomes.

San Mateo County Looks to Northwoods to Increase Productivity and Improve Service Levels

San Mateo County Human Services Agency in Silicon Valley, California faced numerous document management challenges from decentralized services, nonintegrated social services systems, and an increasing caseload. Its central mail unit was overburdened, its document management system had an extensive backlog, and there was no way to tie caseworker’s tasks with documentation. All of that changed when it implemented Compass® Pilot from Northwoods.

Robeson County Goes 100% Paperless with Software for Social Services Agencies from Northwoods

When the Robeson County Department of Social Services began running out of space for its paper files, the director contacted Northwoods with an aggressive goal: Make our social services agency completely paperless. The team at Northwoods didn’t bat an eye and got right to work. Not only did the agency achieve its goal of going paperless, it dramatically improved caseworker productivity and client service times.

When social services caseworkers were faced with increasing caseloads and fewer resources, the Allen County Job and Family Services Agency in Lima, Ohio contacted Northwoods to automate its application processing tasks. A 64% productivity gain was achieved, but that was just the start. When Northwoods unearthed bottlenecks in other agency processes, Northwoods implemented its document management software and created additional efficiencies that the agency didn’t anticipate.

Montgomery County Child Support Enforcement Agency in Dayton, Ohio needed a document management solution built with social service agencies in mind. The agency had a goal to eliminate ongoing paper, reduce offsite storage, and provide caseworkers with immediate access to case files. Northwoods’ Compass Pilot helped the agency achieve those goals, giving caseworkers back time they need to process increasing caseloads.

Yadkin County Cuts Paper Usage and Case Review Time by Half with Northwoods

After hearing rave reviews from other human services agencies about Northwoods’ user-friendly document management software for social services, Yadkin County Department of Social Services in Yadkinville, North Carolina asked Northwoods to help reduce the agency’s reliance on paper, which saved storage space and improved customer service.

Wood County Improves Service Levels and Meets Compliance Goals with Northwoods

When looking to improve client service and efficiently meet government requirements, the Wood County Department of Job and Family Services in Ohio turned to Northwoods because of the team’s knowledge of human services technology and document management for social services agencies. The agency got what it needed, and more. Compass Pilot improved caseworker service levels, accountability, and data quality increased while processing times decreased.

Northwoods Helps Ohio Human Services Agencies Save Time and Money

Tired of the burden of social services administrative tasks like copying and filing paper, child support workers in Ohio agencies began using Northwoods’ human services document management software to gain two extra hours every week to respond to clients’ questions and conduct more thorough client interviews. The agencies are also cutting wait times for clients with Compass Appointments®.

Marion County Enhances Service Delivery and Cuts Costs with Northwoods

Facing unworkable paper-intensive social services processes and inefficient business and document management practices, Marion County Job & Family Services in Marion, Ohio turned to Northwoods for a solution. Northwoods delivered. Thanks to Compass Pilot agency caseworkers feel more productive and able to respond to clients, and the agency has eliminated all off-site file storage.

"Implementing the Northwoods solution has resulted in a more productive and accountable staff, increased customer responsiveness and greater value for the public."
Roxanne Somerlot, Director, Marion County Job and Family Services